August 21, 2021 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm 47 South Oak Street, Ventura, CA
R.J. Mischo and T.J. Norton will team up to provide a swinging round of virtuoso blues harmonica. These two accomplished musicians will explore the realm of the blues and have you tapping your feet all night
R.J. (Robert) Mischo began singing and playing harmonica in the Minneapolis area in the late ’70s. He played with the blues heavyweights of that area and timeframe such as Muddy Waters sideman Mojo Buford, Percy Strother, and Milwaukee Slim. R.J. also fronted several of his own bands, including Blues Deluxe and R.J. & Kid Morgan Blues Band (which featured guitarist Teddy Morgan and singer Percy Strother). His 1992 album with that band, Ready to Go, won praises far and near and still has an unmatched magic about it. Mischo was nominated for several Minnesota Music Academy Awards while in Minneapolis, and in 1996, he won the award for Best Harmonica Player. In 1994 he released Gonna Rock Tonight. After a few tours of Europe, he re-formed the band and called it R.J. Mischo and His Red Hot Blues Band. Rough and Tough and Cool Disposition were recorded before Mischo departed for San Francisco in 1998. He recorded West Wind Blowin’ there the following year. He and his band make regular appearances in the bay area and also tour the U.S. and Europe.
TJ Norton is a professional harmonica player, singer and songwriter from the UK, now living in Los Angeles, who has performed on shows across the UK, Europe and the USA.
TJ is a nominated finalist in the British Blues Awards, having one of his original songs used in the soundtrack of the multi award winning critically acclaimed documentary “As The Crow Flies”.
Some of TJ’s more contemporary influences have been the likes of , Paul Oscher, Steve West Weston, Paul Lamb and UP Wilson. Having also played with blues greats including Gary Clarke Jr., Kirk “Eli” Fletcher, Janiva Magness, Bob Margolin, U.P. Wilson, Eddie Stout, Arthur Adams and Zach Zunis, TJ has developed into a deeply moving blues artist in his own right who has more than paid his dues.
TJ Norton plays music as a man possessed. Gifted with the ability to switch from a beautiful gentle phrase, to full bore fat tone highly energetic musical attacks, in an instant. He doesn’t just play music, he lives and literally breathes his craft!